That's odd that your vet said ham is okay. From everything I've read, ham, or any pork products like bacon, sausage, etc. are big triggers for pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis is an unpredictable disease that is easier to prevent than to treat. That's why we caution owners not to give fatty treats like ham and sausage to the dog, even if he's handled it for years. It can cause a sudden and sometimes severe problem," states Dr. Linnetz http://www.parade.com/pets/articles/...nous-food.html Ham and Other Fatty Meats Are Very Dangerous
Like cheese, ham and other fatty meats are high in fat, which can lead to a life-threatening pancreatitis. In addition to being high in fat, these foods are very salty and can cause serious stomach upset if eaten by your cats or dogs. Furthermore, large breeds of dogs that eat salty food may drink too much water and develop a potentially fatal condition called bloat. The stomach fills up with gas and within several hours may twist on itself, causing the animal to die. So avoid giving ham and/or rich/salty meats to your pets.
http://www-s.cvm.uiuc.edu/ope/petcol...article&id=399
Ham and bacon contain too much fat and too much salt, and can cause pancreatitis. http://www.lacetoleather.com/fataltodogs.html Never give your dog fat trimmings from meat and especially from ham as high fat consumption could lead to a bout of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can range in severity from mild to life threatening. Turkey skin is also high in fat content.
Vets see an increase in pancreatitis over holiday seasons. http://www.dogchatforum.com/foods-not-for-dogs.htm